Device for feeding plate materials

Abstract

A device for feeding plate materials wherein plate materials in a magazine are guided toward its outlet and urged in the direction perpendicular to their surfaces by a reciprocating member disposed at the outlet of the magazine in such a manner that it can be moved back and forth to receive the plate members from the outlet of the magazine and carry them one by one on its support surface to a predetermined position. A kicker is retractably fitted to the reciprocating member through a spring so that, when projected from the support surface of the reciprocating member, the kicker engages with the rear edge of the plate material on the support surface as it advances. A rear engagement projection protrudes inwardly from the rear wall of the magazine outlet so that it opposes and engages the outer rear surface of the outermost one of the plate materials contained in the magazine. A front engagement projection protrudes from the front wall of the magazine outlet toward the support surface of the reciprocating member so that it opposes the front edge of the outermost one of the plate materials contained in the magazine. A claw projects from the front end of the kicker so that it catches the rear edge of the plate material pressed against the support surface of the reciprocating member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for feeding plate materials comprising: a magazine containing a number of stacked plate materials and guiding them toward its outlet, the plate materials being urged in the direction perpendicular to their surfaces; a reciprocating member disposed at the outlet of the magazine in such a manner that it can be moved back and forth to receive the plate members from the outlet of the magazine and carry them one by one on its support surface to a predetermined position, the support surface being disposed to face the outlet of the magazine; a kicker retractably fitted to the reciprocating member through a spring so that, when projected from the support surface of the reciprocating member, the kicer engages with the rear edge of the plate material on the support surface as it advances; a rear engagement projection protruding inwardly from the rear wall of the magazine outlet so that it opposes and engages the outer rear surface of the outermost one of the plate materials contained in the magazine; a front engagement projection protruding from the front wall of the magazine outlet toward the support surface of the reciprocating member so that it opposes the front edge of the outermost one of the plate materials contained in the magazine; and a claw projecting from the front end of the kicker so that it catches the rear edge of the plate material pressed against the support surface of the reciprocating member, said kicker being disposed so that the upper surface of the kicker, as it moves forward, comes into sliding frictional engagement with the underside of the plate material whose rear end is engaging with the rear engagement projection of the magazine and moves the last-recited plate material off of said rear engagement projection of the magazine and into position to be fed out of the magazine and thereafter to be caught and moved by said claw of said kicker. 
     
     
       2. A device for feeding plate materials as set forth in claim 1, wherein the kicker has means with a high coefficient of friction on the upper surface thereof. 
     
     
       3. A device for feeding plate materials as set forth in claim 1, wherein a movable engagement member is supported on a shaft on the front wall of the magazine outlet so that it opposes the front edge of the plate member pressed against the support surface of the reciprocating member. 
     
     
       4. A device for feeding plate materials as set forth in claim 3, wherein the movable engagement member is restricted in its movement by a spring.